Michael Chandler: It ‘Makes a Lot of Sense' for Bellator to Put Me on PPV Card

It’s hard to say exactly where Bellator would be today if Michael
Chandler wasn’t a part of its roster. The Missouri native has
been fighting for the promotion since Bellator 31, and he’s been
involved in several of the greatest scraps the promotion has ever
put on.

Chandler will be in action once again in one of the featured bouts
at Bellator NYC “Sonnen vs. Silva” on Saturday night when he puts
his lightweight title on the line against Brent
Primus. Aside from a three-fight losing streak a few years
back, Chandler has been nearly impossible to beat inside the cage.
He first captured the Bellator 155-pound title in 2011 when he
submitted Eddie
Alvarez in the fourth. He defended it twice before going on his
skid, but he recaptured his title last June when he torched
Patricky
Freire in the first round at Bellator 157.

It's that sort of experience in huge fights that he thinks will be
one of the biggest factors going in against Primus, who is a
substantial underdog.

“I think that’s the main thing going for me in this fight,”
Chandler told Sherdog.com in a recent interview. “I’ve been
fighting for a long time and have shared the cage with some of the
best fighters in the world, including one of the best lightweights
of all-time in Benson
Henderson. I also beat another former UFC champion in Eddie
Alvarez. Brent
Primus is a tough guy, but he’s nothing that I haven’t seen
before. I’ve beaten up much better guys than he’s fought but at the
end of the day, it’s about me going out there and performing and
focusing on my game plan.”

Much has been made of Chandler’s vast experience against Primus’
record of 7-0. Though he’s unbeaten and has looked terrific in
accumulating his wins, he has yet to face someone the caliber of
Chandler. Many wonder whether the big stage will be too great for
Primus, but Chandler said it doesn’t matter of Primus is ready or
not, because he’s coming right at him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been to pick up when or if a guy freezes
up or the moment is too big for him,” he admitted. “I think a lot
of that stuff is just talk. Look at Jose Aldo; he
never stares anybody in the eyes, and look what he’s been able to
do. Conor
McGregor does the exact opposite where he tries to look into
your soul. For me, I don’t care what the other guy is feeling
because I only focus on what I have to do once that cage door locks
and the fight starts. My job is put my hands on them and put fear
and timidity into their heart. I just come forward and immediately
you’re going to know why you’re nervous about the fight. You’ll
know you’re fighting me once I punch you in the nose and the
mouth.”

The stage will be a massive one, no doubt. Bellator has finally
gotten into New York and there is no venue as magical as Madison
Square Garden. Some of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of
gloves have competed there and Chandler is excited to be a part of
history.

“I think it’s perfect. I have helped build Bellator into what it is
today and I’m one of their biggest stars,” he said. “They have also
helped build my career into what it is today and we have a great
working relationship. I’ve been with Bellator for a decade and I’ve
easily put on some of the biggest fights they have ever had. It’s
makes a lot of sense for them to put me on it. It’s a cool event
and I’m excited to be a part of it. This is my 20th fight and I
couldn’t have scripted this whole thing any better.”